dial it in

Meaning

Verb

• To set up in a perfect or complete way.
• To give a lackluster, uninspired, or timid performance (especially when capable of doing better); to phone it in.

Origin

• Often, complex systems have many dials, which need to be tweaked for optimal performance. Thus, dialing it in involves moving the various dials until the system is performing better. Very probably, it began as a military term used in artillery and naval gunnery; e.g. "We have the enemy dialed in."